BEIJING: China has advised its citizens to refrain from travelling to Japan, following days of back-and-forth criticism and ambassador summonings in the wake of comments by Tokyo's new premier about a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.
Comments by Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on November 7 were widely interpreted as implying that an attack on the self-ruled island claimed by China and just 100 kilometres from the nearest Japanese island could warrant military action by Tokyo.
On Friday (Nov 14), Beijing said that it had summoned Japan's ambassador for a rebuke, while Tokyo said it had summoned China's ambassador after an "inappropriate" and now-removed online post.
Japan has insisted its position on Taiwan is unchanged.
In an online post late Friday Beijing time, China's embassy in Japan warned its citizens about travelling to the country.
"Recently, Japanese leaders have made blatantly provocative remarks regarding Taiwan, severely damaging the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges," the WeChat post said.
The situation presents "significant risks to the personal safety and lives of Chinese citizens in Japan", it said.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan solemnly remind Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Japan in the near future," it added.
Beijing insists Taiwan - which was occupied for decades by Japan until 1945 - is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to seize control. - AFP
